On December 4, 2007, the City Council adopted the Berry/University Urban Village Master Plan (M&C G-15990). In 2010, the City of Fort Worth was awarded funding for the Berry/University Development Plan and Form-Based Code project through the North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG) Sustainable Development Grant Program (M&C G-17782). The City of Fort Worth partnered with the Fort Worth Transportation Authority (The T), Texas Christian University (TCU), and the Berry Street Initiative (BSI) to create a transit-oriented development plan and implementing form-based code for the Berry/University Urban Village and the future TCU/Berry Tex Rail Station area. The Berry/University Development Plan serves as a needed update to the 2007 Berry/University Urban Village Master Plan. The form-based code portion of the project is currently underway, with adoption anticipated in late fall. Since the 1990s, the City and a variety of stakeholders have worked toward a common vision for the Berry/University area. The purpose of the Berry/University Development Plan – An Urban Village Plan Update is to finalize and update that collective vision and to inform the preparation of a new form-based code to implement the updated plan for the Berry/University Urban Village. Key challenges within the project area make implementing this vision for the area even more critical. First and foremost, significant flooding events have occurred and will continue to occur unless measures are taken to help improve stormwater management throughout the project area. Secondly, a planned future TCU/Berry TexRail Station at the intersection of Berry Street and Cleburne Road is anticipated to generate significant development activity in the area. Lastly, TCU has continued to experience growth in its student population, driving increased development activity in the area and associated pressure on surrounding neighborhoods. In October of 2014, an extensive public input process began for the Berry/University Development Plan – An Urban Village Plan Update that centered around a six-day public design charrette held on the TCU campus. Guided by extensive stakeholder engagement and public input, the Berry/University plan outlines key steps, recommendations, and policies for future development; complete streets design; multimodal transportation improvement; potential funding mechanisms; strategies for implementing stormwater management; and improving pedestrian safety and connectivity. The plan depicts short-term and long-term development scenarios based on market conditions and infrastructure capacity, while responding to opportunities for more effective stormwater management that accommodates and enhances future urban development. The plan describes character areas within the project boundary and depicts allowed building types, generalized land uses, and general height and setback parameters that serve as a guide for developing the implementing form-based code for the Berry/University Urban Village area. The final plan was presented to the public on February 11, 2016. The plan was posted to the City's website on February 11, 2016 with an open public comment period that lasted until March 11, 2016. In addition to community input, Staff and the consultant team, Code Studio, have worked closely with various city departments, team stakeholders, and alliance partners to ensure consensus and support for the plan. Staff briefed the City Plan Commission on May 25, 2016, the Urban Design Commission on June 23, 2016, and the Zoning Commission on July 13, 2016. The City Plan Commission held a public hearing on August 24, 2016 and voted to recommend that the City Council adopt the plan and incorporate the plan into the City's Comprehensive Plan by reference. The Berry/University Development Plan – An Urban Village Plan Update can be downloaded from the City's web page at the following URL: http://fortworthtexas.gov/westberry The project is located in COUNCIL DISTRICT 9. |
